Lighting fixture

ABSTRACT

A lighting fixture in which a parallel beam of light is projected from the base of the fixture onto a reflector supported by a rod secured to the base and extending in the path of the beam.

United States Patent King [54] LIGHTING FIXTURE [72] Inventor: Charles S. King, Old Manor House,

Cubbington, England [22] Filed: July 20, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 56,352

[52] US. Cl. ..240/4l.1, 240/1.4, 240/81 C, 240/81 BD 51 1m.c1. ..F2lm 7/00 581 FieldofSearch ..24o 41.1,44.1, 103 A,8l R, 240/81 A, 81 c, 81 BS, 81 BA, 81 BD, 1.4, 41.35

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 543,730 7/1895 Heap ..240/4l.1UX 1,476,149 12/1923 Cohen ..240/41.1

[ 1 June 20, 1972 1,513,683 10/1924 Westover ..240/4 1.1

1,551,461 8/1925 Bloomingdale... ...240/41.1

2,668,228 2/1954 Levinson et al ..240/1 2,744,192 5/1956 Rosenthal ..240/41.1 X

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 575,602 2/1946 Great Britain ..240/1.4

550,107 5/1932 Germany "240/41, 1

Primary liraminerCharles A. Ruehl Attorney-Laurence J. Marhoefer [57] ABSTRACT A lighting fixture in which a parallel beam of light is projected from the base of the fixture onto a reflector supported by a rod secured to the base and extending in the path of the beam.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patehted June 20, 1972 a Shuts-Shut 1 Patented June 20, 1972 3,671,735

2 Shuts-Shut 2 INVENTOR CHAR/-15 6 S LIGHTING FIXTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to lighting fixtures, and, more particularly, to a new lighting fixture suitable for use both as a floor lamp and as a table lamp.

In prior art floor (or standard) lamps and tables lamps, the lighting source is usually supported above the plane in which illumination is principally desired. A shade or reflector disposed closely adjacent the light source serves to collect and direct the light. The height of these prior art fixtures is not readily variable except to a limited extent owing to the complexities introduced in making an electrical connection to an illuminating source whose height is variable. In addition, a large base is necessary to support such prior art floor lamps and such a base is generally too large to be acceptable for supporting the fixture on a table.'

Hitherto fixtures were suitable as floor lamps or as table lamps only. Moreover, prior art floor and table lamp fixtures are bulky in appearance owing to their need for relatively large shades or reflectors, and the range of designs of floor lamps has been inhibited by the need of wide bases for stabitity.

An object of the invention is to provide a lighting fixture whose height is readily adjustable so that it can serve either as a table lamp or as a floor lamp and which is stable without the need for a wide support base on which to rest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the invention contemplates a lighting fixture in which a reflector and light source housed in the base of the fixture projects a parallel beam of light upwardly toward a second reflecting surface which directs the light toward the desired surface.

A support carried by the base and extending upwardly therefrom supports the second reflector. The support is convenicntly arranged vertically and coaxially with the beam with the second reflector mounted at the upper end thereof. Preferably, the support is telescopically extensible to enable the fixture to be used with the support extended as, for example, when it is desired to use the fixture as a floor lamp, or with the support retracted as, for example, when it is desired to use the fixture as a table lamp.

The first reflector, which is arranged to direct the light in a parallel beam towards the second reflector, may be of parabolic form with the light source located at the center of curvature or focus of the reflector. Preferably, a lamp with a small filament is used in order to concentrate the light source at the center of focus of the reflector.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Having briefly described this invention, it will be described in greater detail along with other objects and advantages in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment which may be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings form part of the instant specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith. Like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views;

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation of one embodiment of the invention with the support in an extended condition;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a further embodiment of the invention with the support in a retracted condition;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation of the base of the embodiment of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view on the line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring firstly to FIG. 1, a lighting fixture in accordance with the teachings of this invention has a base, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, in which is located a source of light in the form of an electrically operated incandescent bulb 11. The filament (not shown) of the bulb 11 is located preferably at the focus or center of curvature of a parabolic reflector 12. The bulb 11 preferably has a small filament and is capable of producing a high intensity light beam so that the reflector 12 can project upwardly without lenses a relatively intense, parallel beam of light. A structural member 13 supports the reflector l2 and both the support and reflector are enclosed by a cylindrical housing 14.

A cable 15 supplying electricity for the bulb 11 passes through a port in the housing 14 just above a base plate 16 which rests on the surface supporting the fixture. The reflector 12 is directed so that it reflects a parallel beam of light from the bulb 11 vertically upwards. A partly spherical cap 19, which is supported over the bulb ll, prevents light passing directly upwards from the bulb without being reflected from the reflector 12.

A flat cover 17, which is transparent or translucent, encloses the reflector 12; a support ring 18 secures the cover 17 to the housing 14. A telescopically extensible support rod 20 is secured to the cover 17, which may be formed of glass or of a suitable plastic material. The support rod 20 passes through a hole in the center of the cover 17, and spaced radial flanges 21 secured to rod 20 engage each side of the cover and hold the rod in place.

The support 20 is formed of coaxial tubular rods 22 of progressively diminishing diameter which fit slidingly one inside the other, the upper smallest diameter rod 22a being attached to a lightweight reflector 23. The reflector 23 has a plane reflecting surface 24 formed on a disc and carried in a lightweight support member 25 which engages the rim of the disc 24.

The end of the rod 22a is formed with a ball member 26 which engages with a socket portion 27 of the disc 24 to constitute a ball and socket joint between the reflector 23 and the support 20. The joint permits universal pivoting of the reflector with respect to the support, for example, to the position shown in FIG. 2.

The reflecting surface 24 may be planar, as shown. concave, or convex. Moreover, the surface may be colored to reflect only colored light and it may have such a surface, such as a non-uniform surface, that it diffuses the parallel light beam projected on it from the lower reflector 12. The disc 24 may be formed of plastic material or it may be of sheet metal construction, or a combination of plastic and sheet metal material.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, in which similar parts to those in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals, the construction of the lighting fixture there disclosed is basically similar to that shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment the base 10 includes an upper cylindrical portion 30 housing the reflector 12, which is of larger diameter than a lower cylindrical portion 31 of the base which houses a transformer 32. The upper and lower portions 30 and 31 are joined by a truncated inverted conical portion 33. Bolts 35 secure a base plate 34, which has a larger diameter than the portion 31, to the lower end of that portion.

An electricity supply for the light source 1 l is fed through a cable 15 into the transformer 32 and the supply is fed to the bulb l 1 at an appropriate voltage. A low voltage supply for the bulb is desirable as it enables the use of a low voltage bulb known in the art which has a very small filament and is particularly well adapted for use where a relatively high-intensity, parallel light beam is desired.

The reflector 12 is supported on the portion 33 of the base and has a cover 36 of translucent or transparent material. A further cover 37 of translucent or transparent material is spaced vertically above the cover 36 and is located by a retaining ring 38 secured to the upper end of the base portion 30. A honeycomb screen 39 (shown in plan view in FIG. 4) is located between the covers 36 and 37. The screen 39 has surfaces arranged in planes parallel to the beam of light projected by the reflector 12. These surfaces are non-reflective and serve to absorb any light which is not directed toward the reflector 23, thus preventing glare from emanating from the base.

[twill be apparent that the screen 39 need not be of the honeycomb structure shown, but may be of any form in which a plurality of apertures extending parallel to the beam of light are provided and which cuts out stray light.

A support rod 20 has a lower support rod 22b which extends through a hole in the cover 37 and has a screw-threaded portion on which is located securing nuts 40. The support rod 20 and reflector 23 are of generally similar form to that shown in FIG. 1, except that in this case the reflector has a concave reflecting surface formed on a disc-like member 41. The upper rod 22a of the support is again formed with a ball 26 and the reflector with a socket 27 for a ball and socket joint by which the reflector is pivotally secured to the support.

As seen in FIG. 2 the support 20 is in a telescopically retracted position in which the fixture can be used as a table or desk lamp, the light being directed from the reflector 23 to a predetermined area to one side of the base 10.

An alternative form of reflector to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be used. This reflector is again secured to the support 20 through a ball and socket connection, the socket portion being formed on the hub portion of a disc. The disc is formed of flexible material and has a reflective surface. The outer circular edge of the disc is secured to a cylindrical portion of a support member by an angle piece. A screw is rotatably secured to the hub and engages a threaded hole in the center of a disc portion of the member so that rotation of the screw causes the member to move toward or away from the hub to thereby flex the disc to give a convex, plane, or concave reflecting surface, as desired. Thus, the area over which light can be reflected from the reflector can be readily varied merely by adjusting the screw.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 a similar variation is achieved by replacing the existing reflector with a different form of reflector.

The invention provides a lighting fixture which is readily adapted for use as a floor lamp or a table lamp and which is stable without the need for a wide base. If necessary, the base can be weighted to assist stability. Moreover, the fixture is able to provide various light patterns according to specific requirements, and the light patterns and the direction of the light pattern are readily varied.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. A lamp fixture comprising, in combination:

a base adapted to rest on a supporting surface,

means housed in said base for projecting a parallel beam of light through an opening in said base,

a light reflector,

a rod,

means for supporting said rod,

means for securing said rod supporting means to said base so that said rod supporting means extends over said opening,

means for securing one end of said rod to said rod supporting means so that said rod is disposed in the path of said parallel beam, and

means for securing said reflector to the other end of said rod.

2. A lamp fixture as in claim 1 wherein said rod is telescopically extensible.

3. A lamp fixture as in claim 2 wherein said reflector is planar and said means for securing the other end of said rod to said reflector means comprises a pivotally securing means.

4. A lamp fixture as in claim 1 wherein said support means 1s a translucent cover enclosing said light beam projecting means.

5. A lamp fixture as in claim 4 wherein said light projecting means comprises an incandescent bulb disposed at the focus of a parabolic reflector.

6. A lamp fixture as in claim 5 further including a step-down electrical transformer housed in said base.

7. A lamp fixture as in claim 5 further including a light baffle overlying said parabolic reflector to eliminate glare from said base. 

1. A lamp fixture comprising, in combination: a base adapted to rest on a supporting surface, means housed in said base for projecting a parallel beam of light through an opening in said base, a light reflector, a rod, means for supporting said rod, means for securing said rod supporting means to said base so that said rod supporting means extends over said opening, means for securing one end of said rod to said rod supporting means so that said rod is disposed in the path of said parallel beam, and means for securing said reflector to the other end of said rod.
 2. A lamp fixture as in claim 1 wherein said rod is telescopically extensible.
 3. A lamp fixture as in claim 2 wherein said reflector is planar and said means for securing the other end of said rod to said reflector means comprises a pivotally securing means.
 4. A lamp fixture as in claim 1 wherein said support means is a translucent cover enclosing said light beam projecting means.
 5. A lamp fixture as in claim 4 wherein said light projecting means comprises an incandescent bulb disposed at the focus of a parabolic reflector.
 6. A lamp fixture as in claim 5 further including a step-down electrical transformer housed in said base.
 7. A lamp fixture as in claim 5 further including a light baffle overlying said parabolic reflector to eliminate glare from said base. 